About the middle of last century the trade of the city is generally supposed to be at its zenith, its productions being exported to all the continental markets; after this period the increasing use of cotton goods inflicted a heavy blow on the manufacture of woollen fabrics, while even in the latter, Norwich became exposed to the competition of Yorkshire mills, which occupied vantage ground from their proximity to iron and coal mines. In 1776 there were alarming riots on the part of the weavers, owing to lack of employment and the dearness of provisions. The American and French wars supervened in rapid succession—the latter closed most of the foreign markets, and thus inflicted incalculable injury on the city. Broad bombazines, poplins, camlets, fillover and other shawls, have been introduced at different periods since 1780; the bombazines are nearly superseded by paramattas, &c., and bareges, balzarines, &c., in every variety of design, are now manufactured. Of the yarns chiefly used, the wool is mostly from Australia, the silk from China, (though some from India and Italy) and the mohair from Angora; an inferior description is, however, obtained from Asia Minor. We must not forget to notice the opening of the shoe manufacture in the city, which gives employment to a considerable number of persons of both sexes: nor must we overlook the starch and mustard works of Messrs. Colman. Appended is a brief statement of the particular branches to which the principal factories are devoted:—Messrs. Middleton and Answorth, and Messrs. Bolingbroke, are famed for their poplins, and for the production of crinoline—the material being horsehair from South America. Messrs. Clabburn, for fillover long shawls, by a patented process, which gained the Paris Exhibition medal. Messrs. Willett and Nephew—paramattas, and many plain and fancy fabrics. Messrs. Grout and Co. (also of Yarmouth and Bungay)—silk crape. Mr. Geary and Mr. Sultzer, cotton fabrics—the latter establishment also carries on the winding of cotton on reels. Messrs. Blake and Mr. Jay—spinning of woollen and mohair yarns. Messrs. Towler and Co., and Messrs. Rowling and Allen—plain and fancy fabrics. Mr. G. Allen—woven silk for gloves. Messrs. Hinde—bareges and paramattas. Other important departments of trade, too numerous to be enumerated, are also carried on; such as sacking, tobacco, brushes, egg-flour, artificial manures, &c., &c. PLACES OF WORSHIP. CHURCHES.